Reptile Radiographs

Question 1

Challenges of reptile radiography

Answer 1

• Skin scales degrade image quality
• Lack of diaphragm
• Pulmonary anatomy limits radiographic patterns

Question 2

What immobilizing agents can be used for reptiles

Answer 2

• Ketamine/midazolam
• alfaxalone
• telazole
• ketamine/medetomidine
• propofol
• Isoflurae

Question 3

What does the last pair of ribs mark in snakes

Answer 3

level of the cloaca

Question 4

Common abnormal finding in radiographs of snakes

Answer 4

• Exuberant new bone on spine
• pneumonia
• neoplasms or granulomas
• dystocia
• foreign bodies

Question 5

How are contrast studies done in snakes

Answer 5

• Barium (generally 5ml/kg, up to 20) add air if needed
  
  • passage time up to 7 days
  • Metoclopramide may reduce transit time (20hr)
• Iohexol (nonionic, organic iodine solution)
  
  • good alternative
  • can dilute 1:1 with water
  • Faster transit
  • useful when perforation is suspected

Question 6

How can lizards be radiographed?

Answer 6

• Sandwich small species between foam pads
• Vago-vagal response
• Restraining devices, plastic tuves
• Rarely chemical restraint
• Positions:
  
  • DV, lateral

Question 7

where is the heart in lizards

Answer 7

• cranial thorax at thoracic inlet - iguanid lizards
• further caudal in thorax - monitor lizards

Question 8

What are common abnormal findings in lizard radiographs

Answer 8

• MBD (evident on appendicular skeleton; osteopenia; ⇣ cortical thickness; angular deformities; fractures; vascular mineralizatoin)
• Cystic calculi
• fractures (fibrous callous)
• foreign bodies
• dystocia

Question 9

What contrast studies can be done in lizards?

Answer 9

• Barium
  
  • transit time of 3-6 days in carnivorous sp. upt o 30 days in herbivorous sp
  • occasionally causes constipation
• Iohexol

Question 10

What can be seen on radiographs of chelonians in the different positions

Answer 10

• Dorsoventral
  
  • skeleton, urinary system, GI (obstipation), egg-binding, foreign bodies
• Craniocaudal
  
  • Respiratory system (contrasting 2 lungs)
  • Place in cardboard box, taped, or on foam rubber cushion
  • Use horizontal beam (vertically directed x-ray is less preferable ⇢ shifting of viscera)
• Lateral

Question 11

What is important to remember about chelonian anatomy when looking at radiographs

Answer 11

• Lungs are attached to carapace ⇢ no pleural space
• Internal organs often overshadowed by shell ⇢ obscures organ differentiation
  
  • Difficult to define GI and other soft tissue structures
• Heart is overshadowed by shoulder girdle
• On DV, girdles are distinctly visualized
• Stomach is in left cranial region
• Small amount of gas in GI
• Urinary bladder not visualized lungs identified on horizontal beam radiographs

Question 12

What radiographic abnormalities are common in Chelonians?

Answer 12

• MBD
• Stones in GI
• Gastroenteritis (gas)
• Pneumonia
• Cystic calculi (bladder may be very expansive
• Fractures
• Dystocias